Last updated: October 15, 2026. Shipping prices are published estimates, not quotes. Office details are from each county's website; call before you go. General information, not legal advice.
Our kei trucks are on our lot in Houston, about 210 miles from downtown Corpus Christi. We don't have a Corpus Christi location, so this page covers what it actually takes to get a kei truck to the Coastal Bend and register it in Nueces County, or in San Patricio, Aransas, Kleberg or Jim Wells County: shipping costs and timing, the county tax office, and the police department's twice-monthly VIN inspection.
Quick facts
- Distance: about 210 miles: US-59/I-69 South to Victoria, US-77 South, then I-37 into Corpus Christi.
- Shipping: published 2026 open-carrier prices run from about $200 to $700, most between $300 and $600; usually 1 to 2 days on the road.
- County office: Nueces County Tax Office in the courthouse at 901 Leopard St., or the Robstown and Bishop offices.
- VIN inspection: Corpus Christi police, at the city impound lot on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, $40 cash.
- Tax and fees: about $607 for a $7,999.99 truck in Nueces County, which charges the $33 title fee as a state “affected county”.
- Emissions test: none. Nueces County doesn't test, and a 25-year-old truck would be exempt anyway.
Getting a kei truck from Houston to Corpus Christi
Option 1: have it shipped
We help arrange transport with independent carriers, and you pay the carrier directly. The carrier picks the truck up at our lot during business hours once the balance is paid. Most transport companies list the Corpus Christi run as 1 to 2 days on the road. How quickly a carrier can pick up varies, so plan on several days to a week from booking to delivery.
What it costs: published 2026 prices for Houston to Corpus Christi run from about $200 to $700 on an open carrier, and most fall between $300 and $600.
| Source (route) | Published price | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Freedom Auto Transport (Houston–Corpus Christi, October 2026) | $199–$285 | 1–2 days |
| Sherpa Auto Transport (Corpus Christi–Houston, 2026) | $525–$625 | Up to 2 days |
| AmeriFreight (Corpus Christi–Houston, 2026) | $500–$700 | 1–3 days |
Prices are for a running vehicle on an open carrier. As a rule of thumb, trips under 500 miles run about $1.55 to $2.50 a mile (Sherpa Auto Transport, 2026), which works out to about $325 to $525 for the 210 miles to Corpus Christi. Brokers don't list a separate price for kei trucks, so expect to be quoted at a car or pickup rate even though a kei truck is smaller. An enclosed trailer costs about 30% to 50% more (Homeland Auto Transport), and a vehicle that doesn't run costs more again, often $150 to $300 extra for winching (AmeriFreight). Prices change with season and fuel, so ask for a written quote.
Option 2: come to Houston and trailer it home
It's about 210 miles to Corpus Christi, roughly 3½ hours with a trailer: US-59/I-69 South to Victoria, US-77 South through Refugio and Sinton, then I-37 into the city. SH-35 along the coast through Bay City and Port Lavaca is the slower alternative and skips Houston's southwest freeway traffic. Kei trucks are no more than about 11 ft 2 in long and 4 ft 10 in wide (Japan's size limits for kei vehicles), so they fit on a typical car-hauler trailer. Check your trailer's weight rating and bring straps. Coming in person also lets you inspect and test drive the truck first; call or text (713) 385-9798 to set a time. Lot hours are Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Can I just drive it home? Not legally until it's titled and registered. Texas law lets a miniature vehicle on public highways only after it “has been registered and titled” (Transportation Code §545.429). A 2016 TxDMV policy limited 30-day temporary permits to vehicles already titled or registered in Texas (TxDMV), so ask your county tax office whether a fresh import qualifies for any temporary permit before you count on one (TxDMV temporary permits). And even once it's registered, Texas allows highway speed limits of 70 mph and higher (TxDOT), well above a comfortable cruising speed for a 660 cc kei truck, so the US-59 and US-77 run isn't a good way to get one home either.
Which county office to use
You title and register the truck in the county where you live, within 30 days of the sale. In Corpus Christi, Robstown or Bishop that's the Nueces County Tax Office. Portland, Ingleside and Sinton are in San Patricio County, Rockport in Aransas County, Kingsville in Kleberg County and Alice in Jim Wells County, each with its own tax office.
| County | Main office | Phone | Hours and visits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nueces | Nueces County Courthouse, 901 Leopard St., Suite 301, Corpus Christi 78401; Robstown and Bishop offices. The Port Aransas office inside City Hall is temporarily closed during construction | (361) 888-0230 | Hours and the appointment policy aren't shown on the county's directory listing; the office offers online appointments, so call or book before you go. Email Nueces.Tax@nuecescountytx.gov. |
Outside Nueces County? Use your own county's office (TxDMV office finder). Nueces County doesn't publish its own checklist for imported vehicles, so follow TxDMV's out-of-state and imported vehicle requirements (TxDMV), including a certified English translation, and call ahead to confirm what they want to see.
Tax and fees in your county
Example: a $7,999.99 kei truck bought from us and titled in your county. The title fee is $33 in Nueces and San Patricio counties, which are on the state's “affected county” list even though they don't test emissions, and $28 in Aransas, Kleberg and Jim Wells counties. The state registration fee is $50.75 plus $1 for TexasSure. The processing fee ($4.75) and inspection program replacement fee ($7.50) are the same everywhere (TxDMV, DPS). Only the local fees change (TxDMV 2026 fee chart).
| County | Sales tax (6.25%) | Title | State registration | Local fees | Processing + inspection fee | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nueces | $500.00 | $33.00 | $51.75 | $10.00 | $12.25 | $607.00 |
| San Patricio | $500.00 | $33.00 | $51.75 | $11.50 | $12.25 | $608.50 |
| Aransas | $500.00 | $28.00 | $51.75 | $11.50 | $12.25 | $603.50 |
| Kleberg | $500.00 | $28.00 | $51.75 | $10.00 | $12.25 | $602.00 |
| Jim Wells | $500.00 | $28.00 | $51.75 | $11.50 | $12.25 | $603.50 |
None of these counties runs emissions testing, and a kei truck old enough to import would be exempt anyway (testing covers gasoline vehicles 2 through 24 years old; TCEQ). Plan for the VIN inspection fee below, and a translation or appraisal if your county asks for one (see the Texas guide).
Where to get the VTR-68-A VIN inspection in Corpus Christi
A truck imported from Japan needs Form VTR-68-A, a VIN inspection done by a law enforcement auto theft unit, before the county will title it (TxDMV). The truck has to be there, so this is another reason to bring it home on a trailer or carrier first.
| Agency | Who it serves | How to book | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corpus Christi Police Auto Theft Task Force, at the City Impound Lot, 5485 Greenwood Dr., Corpus Christi 78417 | The city's older page said Corpus Christi and the surrounding counties; the current page states no residency rule | 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.; be in line by 10:00 a.m. No appointment; first come, first served. Bring every document you have for the truck (City of Corpus Christi). Unit office, 3rd floor, 321 John Sartain St.: 361-886-2841, 8 a.m.–4 p.m. | $40 cash, exact change (the older page says the fee is waived for active-duty military) |
| Texas DPS, Corpus Christi | Not posted | By appointment only, (361) 698-5691, according to the police department's older page | Ask |
Bring your ID, proof of insurance, the bill of sale and all the import papers. You have 30 calendar days after the inspection to file the form with the county, so line up the tax office visit for the same month.
If the county office has questions
Kei titles are still new to many clerks. Our Texas title guide covers the common problems: non-17-digit chassis numbers, outdated inspection checklists, translations, and the “off-highway use only” remark. If you're still stuck, the TxDMV regional service center for your county can help with title problems. Nueces, San Patricio, Aransas, Kleberg and Jim Wells counties are served by the Corpus Christi Regional Service Center (602 N. Staples St., Suite 130, Corpus Christi 78401; 361-808-3900), open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Kei trucks around Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi is a port and Navy town with ranch country on three sides: the King Ranch starts just south of Kingsville, and the brush country toward Alice and George West is cattle and hunting-lease land where a 4x4 kei truck with a locking differential does a UTV's job for similar money, with a cab and a license plate. Closer to the water, people use them around bay houses, marinas and RV lots on Padre and Mustang Islands. One coastal caveat: the Coastal Bend's salt air is hard on any older vehicle, so look closely at the underside and bed of any truck you're considering (ask us for extra underbody photos before it ships), wash the underbody after beach trips, and keep up with rust prevention.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to ship a kei truck from Houston to Corpus Christi?
Published 2026 prices for an open carrier run from about $200 to $700, and most fall between $300 and $600. Get a written quote; we can help you arrange one.
How long does shipping from Houston to Corpus Christi take?
Usually 1 to 2 days on the road once the carrier picks it up. Allow several days to a week from booking.
Where do I get a VTR-68-A inspection in Corpus Christi?
Corpus Christi police do them at the city impound lot, 5485 Greenwood Dr., on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month from 9 to 11 a.m. (be in line by 10). No appointment; $40 in exact cash.
Why is the title fee $33 in Nueces County when there's no emissions test?
Texas charges $33 instead of $28 in counties that are in a federal nonattainment area or on the Health and Safety Code's “affected county” list, and Nueces and San Patricio are on that list. It doesn't mean your truck gets tested.
Can I see the truck before it's shipped?
Yes. It's on our Houston lot, and you're welcome to inspect and test drive it, or send someone to do it for you. Call or text (713) 385-9798.
Shop kei trucks
Browse trucks in stock in Houston, or reserve one that is arriving soon from Japan with a $1,000 deposit that counts toward the price. New to kei trucks? Start with our kei truck buyer's guide, our guide to what a kei truck costs in Texas and the Texas title and registration guide. Questions? Call or text (713) 385-9798.
Other Texas cities: Houston (our lot) · Dallas–Fort Worth · Fort Worth · Austin · San Antonio · El Paso · Lubbock · Beaumont · College Station–Bryan · Waco · Tyler–Longview · Rio Grande Valley
Buying from a nearby state: Louisiana · Oklahoma · Arkansas · New Mexico · All locations
Sources
- TxDMV registration fee chart, 2026
- TxDMV: out-of-state and foreign vehicles
- TxDMV regional service centers: hours and appointments
- TxDMV: Nueces County tax office
- Nueces County Tax Office: schedule an appointment
- KRIS-TV: Port Aransas tax office temporarily closed (August 2026)
- Corpus Christi Police: Auto Theft Task Force (68-A inspections)
- City of Corpus Christi: auto theft unit (older page)
- Form VTR-68-A instructions (fee of up to $40; 30-day validity)
- TxDMV: Corpus Christi Regional Service Center
- Health and Safety Code §386.001 (affected counties, $33 title fee)
- TCEQ: vehicle emissions inspections
- TxDMV: temporary permits (30-day permit limits)
- SB 1816 (Transportation Code §545.429)
Written by Farhad Musazada, Skyline Kei Trucks. Sources checked October 15, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Email us and we'll fix it.
All vehicles are sold by Wideway Motors LLC as is, with no warranty. We help arrange shipping through independent carriers; you pay the carrier directly, and we are not the carrier. Seller makes no representation that any vehicle can be titled, registered or driven on public roads, and being unable to do so is not grounds to cancel a purchase. See our Terms of Sale and Shipping & Pickup Policy.